Live Input Output (Competitive Programming) setup in VS CODE for C/C++ (WINDOWS)

How to install and setup vs code for competitive programming with c/c++ for Windows Users

install vs code

• Download vs code : Link
• Install in your pc

Setup environment for c/c++

• install mingw : link

• In you pc search for system environment

• go to Environment variables

• Go to system varibale and click on path

• click edit

• select new

• paste the link where you mingw bin folder . for me it is C:\MinGW\bin

  • find it there

• select ok ok for everything

Install git

• download link Link

Then

• Open Vs code

• Open your coding folder file->open folder

• press ctrl+~ and the terminal will be opened at the bottom

• if in the terminal u find that its cmd or powershell then click on cmd/powershell and select 'set default sell' and select git

• • Now click on the delete icon and press ctrl+~ and its saying your shell is bash!

• if still bash no showing then close vs code and open vs code again

Run a programme for testing :

• create a file hello.cpp
• write code to print hello

• in terminal use the command

  g++ hello.cpp -o test && ./test
  

• If you find hello then congrats

• if saying g++ not found then try to close vs code and then oepn vs code again.

Setup Vs Code

• Clik on terminal (At the top)
  

• select configure task

• select create task.json from template

• select other and new task.json file will be created

• now copy and paste the my task(windows).json {link is here} file into your task.json file

• done

More things to do :
Note : You just need to do these things only for the first time of your workspace!

• Split screen in 3 sections
  • split the main section in right (right mouse click on the .cpp file and u will get the split options)
  • then split the right into down (same as above)
• create a file named input.txt
• create a file named output.txt
• open input.txt into the upper right section
• open output.txt into the lower right section

This will be the final look of your vs code

Now create a folder and create your file .cpp inside the folder and give inputs in input.txt and press Ctrl+Shift+b and your output will be in the output.txt file

Note : Don't keep the cpp file in the base folder. I mean you have to create one or more folders in the base folder (Base folder means where you opened your vs code or you can say vs code wrokspace folder).and the input and output file should be in the base folder.

Folders should be like this or similer :

Not This

Press Ctrl+Shift+b and your output will be in the output.txt file

Happy coding :3

Comments

[Vijay]

Hey. Thanks for this nice guidelines. I'm getting below error. Can you please help ?

> Executing task:  cp d:\extra\cpp\hello.cpp D:\extra\cpp && g++ hello.cpp -o test.out && ./test.out < input.txt > output.txt && rm *out && rm hello.cpp <

cp: cannot stat 'd:extracpphello.cpp': No such file or directory
The terminal process "C:\Program Files\Git\bin\bash.exe '-c', ' cp d:\extra\cpp\hello.cpp D:\extra\cpp && g++ hello.cpp -o test.out && ./test.out < input.txt > output.txt && rm *out && rm hello.cpp'" failed to launch (exit code: 1).

Terminal will be reused by tasks, press any key to close it.

[5hfT]

Recently i have added some changes for windows hope this will help. Please check this out

github.com/jspw/VS-Code-Config/iss...

[Vijay]

Hmm. I moved the cpp file in there own folder as mentioned in the link. But still no luck :(

[5hfT]

give me a ss of your base folder

[Vijay]

attached

dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/...

[5hfT]

did you change the task.json file try this as i have said that i make some edits.

[Vijay]

I can see your last commit is 4 days ago. I'm using the recent one. Still not working. Do I need to use the older one ?

[5hfT]

Note : Make sure your mouse cursor is clicked or focused on the cpp file editor while you are running your code or pressing control+shift+b

[5hfT]

The error you are facing must be solved using the updated task.json file for windows.

[Vijay]

I'm focusing the file while running it. Also I'm using the latest file.

dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/i/...

[Vijay]

With closer look on the error. I feel like git shell in not converting file path properly.

${file} -> d:\extra\cpp\cod\hello.cpp (I guess this one not converting well. Notice the directory name case)
${workspaceFolder} -> D:\extra\cpp (Correct one)

[Vijay]

I figured it out. Problem was same. Git shell was not recognizing the path. The path parameter should be in quotes. Below is the fix.

In args, make these changes.

"${file}" -> "'${file}'"
"${workspaceFolder}" -> "'${workspaceFolder}'"
"${fileBasename'" -> "'${fileBasename}'",

"args": [
        "cp",
        "'${file}'",
        "'${workspaceFolder}'",
        "&&",
        "g++",
        "'${fileBasename}'",
        "-o",
        "test.out",
        "&&",
        "./test.out",
        "<",
        "input.txt",
        ">",
        "output.txt",
        "&&",
        "rm",
        "*out",
        "&&",
        "rm",
        "'${fileBasename}'"
      ],

[5hfT]

thats great if you have figured it out but i have tested my previous task.json file and it is working fine with other machines!
I think windows have some issues with file management system though its all working file in Linux.

[akib35]

I had same problems too. After adding extra ( ' ' ) made it successful suggested by kikit.
Thanks.

[5hfT]

Most welcome.

[5hfT]

I will check it and will update the repo

[Mahdi Hasan]

this modification in task.json is working with git bash

"args": [
          "cp",
          "'${file}'",
          "'${workspaceFolder}\\${fileBasename}'",
          "&&",
          "fileName=\"${fileBasename}\"",
          "&&",
          "objectFile=\"${fileName%.*}.out\"",          
          "&&",
          "g++",
          "'${fileBasename}'",
          "-o",
          "${objectFile}",
          "&&",
          "./${objectFile}",
          "<",
          "input.txt",
          ">",
          "output.txt",
          "&&",
          "rm",
          "${objectFile}",
          "&&",
          "rm",
          "${fileBasename}",
        ]

[soham04]

Your .json file link is not working, I got my work stoped in between due to that !!!

[5hfT]

Did you use this one ?

[soham04]

these tasks.json will be only valid for this folder and its subfolder only ?

[5hfT]

not like that. Let me see you this

for different workspaces you have to make the tasks.json file once.

[5hfT]

What do u mean setup vim??

[Eren Yaeger]

This is what I'm getting...

[5hfT]

what is your default shell in this vscode space ?

[Virajas Mane]

It is showing hello.cpp : No such file or directory
and also fatal error no input files
can you please help??

[5hfT]

did you create input.txt in the same directory as the hello.cpp??

[soham04]

Will is save out code in github repo also ?

[Amrita Kadam]

Yes thank you so much I just learned that I did not create a folder in the base folder and then the file.cpp.
This worked.

[Eren Yaeger]

Please someone help me out as this is not working in my vscode

[saksham08jain]

I am getting this error,any help is greatly appreciated

[Rooghz]

[
        "cp",
        "\"${file}\"",
        "${workspaceFolder}\\jspwTest.cpp",
        "&&",
        "g++",
        "${workspaceFolder}\\jspwTest.cpp",
        "-o",
        "${workspaceFolder}\\jspwTest",
        "&&",
        "${workspaceFolder}\\jspwTest",
        "<",
        "input.txt",
        ">",
        "output.txt",
        "&&",
        "rm",
        "${workspaceFolder}\\jspwTest.exe",
        "&&",
        "rm",
        "${workspaceFolder}\\jspwTest.cpp"
      ]

Try this it will work..You just have to mention where this 'jspwTest.exe/cpp' file will be present.